Original article Treatment of radius-ulna and tibia fractures with circular external skeletal fixator in 19 dogs H. Bilgili, B. Kurum 1 , O. Captug Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, 06110 Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey 1 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, 78200, Yahsihan, Kirikkale, Turkey Abstract This study was carried out on 19 dogs of different breed, age and sex. 10 different types of radius-ulna and 9 tibia fractures were treated by circular external skeletal fixator. The cases were followed by clinical and radiological controls in the postoperative period. It was observed that the cases tolerated the apparatus well. There was no looseness of fixator stability and configuration during the 15-day interval examination. Complications like pin track, serous drainage and pin loosen- ing were observed postoperatively. It was concluded that radiographic, clinical and anatomical data together with good preoperative planning, the Ilizarov Method and circular external skeletal fixator was successful for the treatment of open or closed fragmented radius-ulna and tibia fractures in dogs. Key words: fracture, radius-ulna, tibia, circular external skeletal fixator, dog Introduction Throughout the second half of the 20 th century, Dr Gavriil Abromovich Ilizarov developed a new method and apparatus in the field of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. He created a new vision for the Orthopaedics and Traumatology research field with his new method, and made developments in the field of soft tissue and bone regeneration. The Ilizarov ap- paratus is a unique external fixation system that can be used in many different fields (Bilgili and Olcay 1998). The Ilizarov circular external skeletal fixator method has frequently been used, especially for the last 15 years, for treatment of fractures in dogs (Fer- Correspondence to: Hasan Bilgili, Phone: 00.90.312.3170315 ext. 403 or 329, Fax: 00.90.312.3473886, e-mail: hbilgilitr@ya- hoo.com, bilgili@veterinary.ankara.edu.tr retti 1991, Latte 1995, Olcay and Bilgili 1996, Marcel- lin-Little et al. 1998, Marcellin-Little 1999, Lewis et al. 1999a, Bilgili 2004, Bilgili et al. 2006) and cattle (Ferretti 1991, Olcay et al. 1999). It is also used in the correction of angular deformities (Ferretti et al. 1987, Ferretti 1991, Latte 1995, Marcellin-Little et al. 1998, Lewis et al. 1999b, Bilgili et al. 2002), non-union frac- tures (Ferretti 1991, Owen 2000), limb lengthening (Gungor et al. 1997), distraction osteogenesis (Fer- retti et al. 1987, Elkins et al. 1993, Lesser 1998, Stall- ings et al. 1998, Erler et al. 1999, Lewis et al. 1999b, Bilgili et al. 2000, Owen 2000, Rovesti et al. 2002, Rahal et al. 2003), arthrodeses (Lewis et al. 1999a), and bone transportation after tumour resections (Rovesti et al. 2002). Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 10, No. 4 (2007), 217-231